Cover for steps or stairs



(No Model.)

B. B. WHALEY. COVER PoR STEPS ORSTAIRS,

No. 514,342. Patented Feb. 6, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BARNETT B. WHALEY, 0F BRCOKLYN, NEWr YORK.

COVER FOR STEPS OR STAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,342, dated February 6, 1894.

Application filed September '7, 1893. Serial No. 485,013. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, BARNETT B. WHALEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the con nty of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Covers for Steps or Stairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement inv covers for protecting steps or stairs and the invention consists in t-he novel features set forth in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in whichl i Figure 1 is a side elevation of steps or stairs sectioned along .n :c Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a section along 'y 'y Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section along ze Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a fastening.

In the drawings the letters A A indicate a series of steps. The treads or covers B B B2 serve to protect the steps as for example in winter if the steps A are exposed, or the covers may serve to protect the steps against soiling or rough usage as for example when heavy furniture is to be moved over the steps or when repairs or plastering is going on. The treads or covers B B B2 are united by connections or tongues C D suitably clamped or fastened together. The tongues or connections C extend from bands or metal strips E secured to the tops of the treads and the tongues or connections D extend from bands or strips F secured to the under faces of the treads. The bands or stripsE F being on opposite sides of the treads will strengthen the latter and will preventy warping, splitting or breaking of the treads. The tongues C are shown provided with rims or flanges G so as to form channeled guides or grooves for the accurate connection of tongues D. The forked clamps for connecting the tongues C D are each composed of a front part or plate H, a rear part or plate I and a side K, one side of the clamp'being ,open so that it is forked and p can be laterally slipped onto or removed from the tongues, thus making the clamp readily insertible and removable.l A screw or fastening L on one of the forks or arms of the clamp can be readily tightened or loosened for securing or removing the clamp. The tongues C are shown provided with shoulders or osets M (Fig. f1) onto which the clamps can be set, thereby securing an alignment or accurate gaging of the clamps and insuring a symmetrical appearance. The face of each clamp can be suitably ornamented if desired. For securing the top and bottom treads wedges N are applied and in case of a long series of treads such wedges can also be applied to treads intermediate thetop and bottom treads. The wedges are shown inserted between the side O of Ithe stoop or stepsA and the edge P of the treads. The side O is shown as the side of a so called box stoop but of course if the side O were replaced by the well known railing or balusters, the wedge could be jammed against such railing or baluster with the saine effect as against the side O. The edge P of the tread B is shown as inclined to correspond to the shape of the wedge and to enable the outeredge of the wedge to set true against the side O. The treads B B2 are shown provided at their ends with attached metallic strips Q having tongues or rims R which form grooves or guides for the wedges. An eye or recess S (Fig. 2) in the upper tongue or rim R is adapted for the insertion of a screw for securing the wedge in place. The lower rim or flange R may also have such an eye or recess S but in case the screw or fastening does not run clean through the tread the lower eye S is not necessary. The wedge N is shown provided with an eye or recess T for the engagement of a tool for removing the wedge from its place when the treads are to be dismounted. The outer end of the wedge can be protected by ametal cap or protector U to strengthen the wedge and prevent splitting or injury when the wedge is driven into place.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a step, of a tread having a grooved strip secured to its end, and a wedge entering the groove in said attached strip and bearing against a side part of the step, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination with a step, of a tread having its opposite ends provided with attached groovedl strips, and wedges entering the grooves in said edge strips and bearing against side parts of the step for binding the IOC tread in position, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a step, of a tread or cover for the step and a wedge adapted to enter between the edge of the tread and the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set side of the step for holding the tread in place, my hand in the presence of two subscribing ro said tread being provided with a groove or witnesses.

tonfrue forl ofuidinv the Wedde and the edge T 5 of tle tongle beintg;P providedJ vvith a recess or BARB ETT B' VVHALEY eye as S for the reception of aserew orfasten- Vitnesses: ing to secure the Wedge substantialy as de- WM. C. HAUFF,

' scribed. E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

